Culvert



Aug. 16, 1938.

F. L. CARSWELL ET AL CULVERT Filed Jan. 18, 1937- 2 Sheets-Sheet l %c/?/77/df W ATTORNEIYS.

Patented Aug. 16, 1938 UNITED STATES CULVERT Firman L. Carswell and Otto W. Schmidt,

Kansas City, Mo.

Application January 18, 1937, Serial No. 121,142

11 Claims.

This invention relates to culverts, and particularly to open bottom culverts wherein the floor is composed of earth materials deposited between check plates.

Much difficulty has been experienced in culverts of this type, due to the fact that in certain types of soils the materials surrounding the culvert parts, and particularly the base portion, are sometimes washed away and water channels are formed whereby the culvert may be dislodged and become ineffective in controlling the water flow. In the present invention this difficulty has been overcome.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a culvert wherein check plates are so positioned relative to the side rails as to form a seal which will entirely retard the flow of water adjacent the bottom and at the sides of the rails.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a culvert with wash checks, having overhanging aprons to prevent the water undermining the checks. 7

A further object is the provision of a culvert of the open base type, having transversely disposed wash checks which extend above, below and beyond the outside of the side rails, whereby a series of separate compartments is formed to receive the earth materials whereby a floor of the culvert is formed and maintained above said side rails.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a culvert having sectional side rails, check plates positioned between adjacent ends of the side rails and secured thereto by means above said side rails to produce a rigid base member for the reception of an arched side member.

Further objects are simplicity and sturdiness of construction, ease of installation, and adaptability to use singly or in parallel, fixed relation.

Other objects will appear during the course of the specification, referring to the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a culvert embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, cross sectional view of the culvert shown in the operative position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view, taken on line IIIIII of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detached elevation of one of the check plates.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the inlet check plate detached.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, perspective View, showing the relation of the check plate and sectional side rail.

(o1. cal-1m Fig. 7 is a partial plan view of the base structure, including the intake check plate, an intermediate check plate, and the side rails.

'Fig. 8-is a fragmentary, plan view of a plurality of the culverts connected together in parallel 5 relation.

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view, taken on line IX--IX of Fig. 8, and,

Fig. 10 is a modified form of an intermediate check plate, showing upwardly extending side lit) wings.

Throughout the several views, like reference characters refer to similar parts, and the numeral l2 designates a side rail, comprising a plurality of composite rail members l4, thereby making it possible to construct a culvert of any desired length by simply adding the required number of members !4 with-the associated parts,

Members I consist of an inverted channel l6, having the flanges l8 thereof outwardly flared, 2 to'add to the base area and also to facilitate manufacture. The flanges, however, might be positioned at any other angle to the body of the channel. 1

Riveted, or otherwise secured to the channel I6, is a trough 20, having upturned side walls 22. At both ends of sectional member M the channel and trough are formed to terminate in a plane perpendicular to the major axes of the channel, and each end is provided with vertically disposed plates 26 which terminate in the end plane of channel I8. Like side rails are positioned at opposite sides of the culvert and are joined together by means of check plates 26. The outer end portions of check plates 26 are preferably planar 35.

and disposed in a common plane so that when the side rail sections are tightly secured thereto by means of bolts 28 passing through openings 32 and 39, as shown in Fig. 3, the assembled parts will be in squared relation, with the slots 38 formed in intermediate and outlet end check plates to produce a continuous trough from one end of the culvert to the other. While plates 24 are shown as angle members having openings 30 and riveted to channels it, it is possible to outeri5 wise provide a ledge by means of which the parts might be secured together. This might be accomplished by simply bending the end portion of the channel or trough at a right angle to the body thereof. Where the joining together of the adjacent ends of side rail members I4 with check plate 26 therebetween, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the side rail sectional members will be in longitudinal alignment and the transverse check plates will be perpendicular thereto.

The check plate 26 shown detached in Fig. 4, consists of planar end plates 34, joined together by means of the vertically corrugated sheet 36. This same structure might be produced by corrugating a single strip of metal intermediate its ends. Furthermore, a planar plate with no corrugations might be used. End plates 34 are notched at 38 to correspond with the inside contour of trough 20, with which it registers to form a continuous trough 40 from one end of the culvert to the other. These troughs at opposite sides of the culvert base serve to receive the edges of the arcuate wall member 42. For convenience of handling, arcuate wall member 42 is made of a series of corrugated sheets, lapped and secured together. To anchor wall member 42 in the trough 20, openings 44 are formed through flanges 22 so that bolts 46 may be passed therethrough and through holes in wall member 42. In many installations bolting of the arch wall to the base may not be necessary; however, the rigidity of the structure is increased by the bolting, The check plates are provided with openings 41 adjacent their opposite ends for reasons hereinafter set forth..

Each check plate is provided at its top edge with an apron 48 which preferably is channel shaped and serves to cap over the upper edge of the check plate with one of its legs 50 secured thereto, and its other leg 52 spaced apart from the plate in the direction of flow of water through the culvert. With this form of apron the water passing through the culvert will flow over the aprons, andif the aprons are above the natural level of the water, it will be deposited onto the culvert bottom away from the check plate.

Referring now to the inlet check plate 54 shown in Figs. 1 and 5, it will be noted that it is constructed with plain end plates 56 joined together by vertically corrugated section 58. To prevent the washing away of the earth material from behind this check plate, it is made to extend farther beyond the side rails, and is also provided with an upwardly extending projection 60, having an arcuate flange that hugs the outer surface of the arcuate wall and may be attached thereto when desired. The end plates 56 are also provided with openings 30, through which bolts may be passed to secure the side rail sections to 54. When so positioned, the end plates will close the intake end of the trough 4i], thus causing all water that collects in 40 to be discharged at the outlet end of the culvert. End plates also have holes 41 adjacent its outer ends. Where but a single culvert is used as shown in Fig. 1, the projected portion of the inlet check plate below and to the side of the culvert may be varied in distance and shape to properly retainthe earth material.

The modified form of check rail is intended to show an intermediate or outlet check rail, having upwardly projecting wings 60 which serve to hug the arched wall and function to more securely seal the culvert against Washes.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, it will be noted that the culverts are securely joined together by bolts 62, passing through holes 41 of the lapped check plates. When so united, the check plates will be extended continuously the full Width of the parallel culverts and will serve to hold them in rigid alignment and will also form a water seal for the side rails and earth bottom of the culvert.

It will be noted that in the process of erecting the culvert, all the structure bolts 28 and 4B are easily accessible and the workman can carry on the assembly with ease and dispatch.

When asesmbled with the culvert slightly inclined in the direction of water fiow, and with the aprons positioned slightly below the natural water line, a smooth floor will soon be formed in the culvert. This floor will consist of the heavier particles of earth material and will withstand the action of the water; furthermore, with the positive transverse sealing of the floor structure and the adjacent side structure by means of the checks above and below the side rails, no water can channel through the substructure of the culvert base.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1.-In a culvert of the character described, a

base frame having longitudinally extending side rails, each rail comprising sections having upper and lower opposed channels rigidly secured together along the backs thereof, said sections being spaced apart by and secured to transverse, planar check plates, said check plates having notches formed in their upper straight edges to register with the inner contour of the adjacent ends of said upper channels whereby a continuous trough is formed along each of said side rails; andan arcuate wall positioned over one side of said base and having its longitudinal edges within said notches and said upper channel respectively.

2. In a culvert of the character described, a base frame having longitudinally extending side rails, each rail comprising sections having upper and lower opposed channels rigidly secured together along the backs thereof, said sections being spaced apart by and secured to transverse, planar check plates, said check plates extending below, above and beyond both sides of said side rails; and an arcuate wall positioned above said base with the longitudinal edges thereof positioned in said upper channels respectively.

3. In a culvert of the character described, a base frame having longitudinally extending side rails, each rail comprising sections having upper and lower opposed channels rigidly secured together along the backs thereof, said sections being spaced apart by and secured to transverse check plates, said check plates being positioned to extend above, below and beyond both sides of said lower channels of the side rail sections; an arcuate wall positioned above said base with its longitudinal edges positioned respectively in said upper channels; and a notch formed in said check plate to conform to the inner cross sectional area of said upper channels whereby a continuous trough is formed to extend the full length of the culvert.

4.. In a culvert of the character described, a base frame having longitudinally extending side rails, each rail comprising sections having upper and lower opposed channels rigidly secured together along the backs thereof, said sections being spaced apart by and secured to transverse, planar check plates, said check plate being positioned to extend transversely beyond all sides of said lower channel of the side rail whereby the end of said channel is completely sealed at its ends against longitudinal water fiow; and an arcuate wall carried above said base by said side rails.

5. In a culvert of the character described, a base frame having longitudinally extending side rails, each rail comprising sections having upper and lower opposed channels rigidly secured together along the backs thereof, said sections being spaced apart by and secured to transverse, planar check plates, said check plates having notches formed in their upper edges to register with the inner contour of said upper channel whereby a continuous trough is formed along each of said side rails; an inlet end check plate secured to the outer pair of side rail sections and being adapted to close the adjacent ends of said troughs; and an arcuate wall carried by said side rails above said base to form a water way.

6. In a culvert of the character described, a base frame having longitudinally extending side rails, each rail comprising sections having upper and lower opposed channels rigidly secured together along the backs thereof, said sections being spaced apart by and secured to transverse, planar check plates, said check plates having notches formed in their upper straight edges to register with the inner contour of said upper channel whereby a continuous trough is formed along each of said side rails; an apron secured to the top of each of said check plates and extending transversely thereto in the direction of the water flow; and an arcuate wall carried above said base by said side rails.

7. A culvert comprising an open base frame having spaced apart, longitudinal side rails, each consisting of a plurality of aligned sections having perforated vertically disposed flanges extending above each end thereof; a planar check plate extending transversely across said base and between adjacent side rail sections and having opening formed therethrough; longitudinally disposed fastening means adapted to pass through the perforations in said flanges and a hole in said check plate, above said side rail, to secure said rails and plates together; and an arcuate wall carried by said side rails above said base.

8. In an open bottom culvert, a base frame having longitudinal side rails and planar transverse check plate, each of said side rails comprising a plurality of longitudinal sections having an upper and a lower opposed channel rigidly secured together along the backs thereof, and having at each end thereof an apertured flange extending upwardly from said lower channel at each side of said upper channel respectively; a check plate having openings formed therethrough extending transversely across said base between the adjacent ends of said side rail sections and beyond the outer edges thereof; a notch in the upper edge of said check plate adapted to register with the said upper channel to form an uninterrupted trough throughout the length of the culvert; bolts passing through the apertures in said flanges and the openings in said check rail whereby the adjacent ends of the side rail sections and the check plate are secured together from above; and an arcuate wall carried above said base frame with its longitudinal edges positioned respectively in said troughs.

9. In an open bottom culvert, a base frame having longitudinal side rails and transverse check plate, each of said side rails comprising a plurality of longitudinal sections having an upper and a lower opposed channel rigidly secured together along the backs thereof, and having at each end thereof an apertured flange extending upwardly from said lower channel at each side of said upper channel respectively; a planar check plate having openings formed therethrough extending transversely across saidbase between the adjacent ends of said side rail sections and beyond the outer edges thereof; a notch in the upper edge of said check plate adapted to register with the said upper channel to form an uninterrupted trough throughout the length of the culvert while the check plate serves to completely close the end of the lower channels; bolts passing through the aperture in said flanges and the openings in said check plate whereby the adjacent ends of the side rail sections and the check plate are secured together; channel shaped aprons extending transversely from the top of each of said check plates in the direction of water flow through the culvert with one leg thereof attached to said check plate; an arcuate wall carried above said frame with its longitudinal edges resting in said troughs; and means for securing said wall to said upper channel.

10. A culvert comprising a fabricated base frame having a plurality of pairs of spaced apart, longitudinal side rails, each consisting of a plurality of aligned side rail sections spaced apart by and secured to transverse check plates, said check plates extending outwardly beyond said rails and being provided with holes whereby said pairs of side rails may be positioned in parallel relation and secured together by bolts passing through the holes in overlapped check plates of adjacent culverts; and an arcuate wall extending above each pair of side rails of said base with its longitudinal edges positioned on said side rails.

11. A culvert comprising an open base frame having spaced apart longitudinal side rails, each of said side rails comprising a plurality of aligned sections each having an upper and lower channel rigidly secured together along the backs thereof, and having at each end thereof, a transverse apertured flange above said lower channel; a planar check plate extending transversely across said base between the adjacent ends of said side rail sections, the upper edge of said check plate being on a substantially straight line determined by the upper edges of said upper channels and having a notch formed therein adjacent each end to register with the respective upper channels to form an uninterrupted trough throughout the length of the culvert; means passing through said apertured flanges of adjacent side rails and through openings in said check plate whereby the parts are secured together with the check plate completely closing the lower channel ends, portions of said check plate extending outwardly from and above said side rails to preclude all possible flow of water adjacent the underside of said rails; an arcuate wall carried above said base frame with the longitudinal edges thereof positioned respectively in said troughs; and an inverted channel positioned on the upper edge of said check plate beneath said arcuate wall with one of the downturned legs thereof spaced apart from the check plate.

FIRMAN L. CARSWELL.

OTTO W. SCHMIDT. 

